Dead-broke actor Michael Jace and his wife were in a furious fight over money before he gunned her down in front of their kids in their Los Angeles pad, it was revealed Tuesday.

The star of “The Shield” had filed for bankruptcy in March 2011 in a desperate bid to straighten out his tangled finances, but still owed about $411,000 on the home, which was underwater and facing a foreclosure sale.

The Paterson, NJ-born actor was also delinquent on tax payments — and his money woes put a heavy strain on his marriage.

And he also had a history of horrific domestic violence, choking and slamming a previous wife against a wall in front of their infant child, according to TMZ.

Jace, 51, called cops Monday, admitting he had shot wife April Jace, 40. When cops got to their Hyde Park home about 8:30 p.m., she was already dead.

TMZ reported that both kids witnessed their dad pull the trigger, before he called 911 to say, “I shot my wife,” and then meekly remained on the line with the dispatcher until cops arrived.